Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 22,
2006 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Denver-based Furniture Row Cos., owner and sponsor of Furniture Row Racing, has announced a redesign of the official team Web site to be launched next month.
The Web site, located at furniturerowracing.com, will allow fans of the No. 78 Nascar Nextel Cup fans through the company's racing program.
The redesign strengthens Furniture Row Racing's commitment to its fans by offering everything from the latest news and information, driver biographies, race results, team photo galleries and an interactive message board. The Shop Talk section will give racing team members a venue to provide information on developments, answer fan questions and comment on race activity.
Furniture Row Cos. is one of the largest family-owned specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers. The company includes five specialty store brands: Sofa Mart, Oak Express, Bedroom Expressions, Denver Mattress Co. and Furniture Row Outlets. The company operates more than 270 stores in 30 states nationwide.
March 22,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Brian D. Casey has been named president of the High Point International Home Furnishings Market Authority effective April 18.
He succeeds Judy Mendenhall, who has held the post since the organization's inception in 2001.
In announcing Casey's appointment Thursday morning, Market Authority Board Chairman Paul Toms said his 26-year career in association and trade show management was a great fit.
Toms said the authority conducted a nationwide search and interviewed many candidates. Only one of the top four had furniture industry experience.
The board was seeking someone with a variety of skill sets including trade show experience, strong communication skills, leadership experience, a marketing background and experience in the industry.
Toms said ultimately that the other skills outweighed industry experience because "there's enough industry experience on the board."
"Brian is a good fit for us," Toms said. "One of his strengths is his experience in helping organizations focus on making their customers their first priority. He will guide us through the process of continuing to improve the business experience in High Point for all of our Market attendees."
Casey is president and owner of Next Generation Event Group, Inc., in Chicago, a convention and trade show services business in 2003, specializing in trade show and conference development. His company has operated successful trade shows for associations, increasing exhibit and sponsorship revenue performance. Casey plans to shutter Next Generation.
Prior to forming his own company, Casey was executive vice president of conventions and trade shows with Smith, Bucklin & Associates, the world's largest association management company. He joined Smith, Bucklin in 1991, as director of trade shows, and later led a team that directed all of the company's trade shows and conventions, totaling some 40 events.
Casey is a board member of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research and the International Association of Exposition Managers. He is a member of the Professional Convention Management Association, the Society of Independent Show Organizers, and the American Society of Association Executives, and a past member of the Major American Trade Show Organizers, which he chaired.
Casey said he was impressed with the cohesiveness of the Market Authority's board.
"I've had a lot of experience with volunteer boards, and this is one of the most functional that I've encountered in my 26 years in the business," Casey said.
Toms, chairman and chief executive officer of Hooker Furniture, praised Mendenhall who joined the authority in the beginning.
"Judy Mendenhall brought the Market Authority from its infancy to a strong, well-run, cohesive organization that is continually improving and delivering better services each market," he said. "We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude."
March 21,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Ron Fuhrman has joined Canadian case goods manufacturer Durham Furniture as vice president of marketing and product development. He comes to the company from Pennsylvania House, where he was vice president of marketing.
Fuhrman will work with Chief Executive Officer Keith McSpurren to set product and pricing strategies. He'll also work with Durham's designers and production management to develop new product, explore new product opportunities that build on Durham's strength as a solid-wood case goods maker and research and develop new licensing programs.
He also will be responsible for Durham's marketing efforts, including strengthening the company's brand position among retailers and developing promotions that drive business. Fuhrman also will work with Durham's sales representative network to develop business plans.
An industry veteran, Fuhrman also has held marketing management positions with Hickory Chair Co. and Mersman Waldron Furniture. He began his career at retail, working with such companies as Schoenfeld's Furniture and Leath/Maxwell Home Furnishings.
"We're delighted to have Ron join the team here at Durham Furniture, as the marketing and product development skills and leadership he possesses will help secure our success in this ever-changing business environment," McSpurren said.
"I'm excited and delighted to be joining Durham Furniture, one of the few true manufacturers of solid wood bedroom left in North America," Fuhrman said. "Even though this company is over 100 years old, it is still young at heart and works every day to achieve its future potential."
Fuhrman will be based in Durham Furniture's permanent showroom and sales office located in the Market Square building in downtown High Point.
March 21,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
Retail automation vendor Myriad Software will introduce its new software at the April High Point market. The Version 4.3 package features expanded capability for wireless inventory control and debit-card integration.
Enhancements include a driver check-in and truck check function to ensure delivery of the correct merchandise, specific reasons for returns, improved customer service on the delivery end and heightened inventory control on the store end.
Version 4.3's Retail Price Manager function offers retailers a choice of getting promotional price updates and retail price markdowns through the overall store system or remotely from Myriad's wireless module.
Additional wireless enhancements for the new software include accounting for inventory that's been serialized and enabling retail staff to request and print out merchandise tags or bar code labels for any that are missing.
In addition, with Version 4.3, debit cards have been integrated in response to the sales trend away from paper checks, and Hammary has been added to EDI, a boon for the software company's La-Z-Boy dealer network.
March 21,
2006 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2006
The Brick Group Income Fund, whose subsidiaries sell furniture, mattresses, appliances and electronics, is reporting lower earnings and same-store sales revenue for its fourth quarter.
The Edmonton, Alberta-based company said its adjusted earnings, before interest charges, taxes, depreciation and amortization, fell to $24.8 million from a year-earlier $26.4 million.
Retail sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31 declined $2.3 million.
"2005 was a year of many accomplishments," said Kim Yost, chief executive officer. "Consolidated adjusted sales and operating revenue of $1.23 billion was up $47.3 million, compared to 2004."
He also said the Brick Group expanded in the Quebec, opening an eighth store, rolled out its third HomeShow location and launched a specialty mattress chain, Sleep Better, with 11 new stores in the Toronto area.
In the fourth quarter, total same-store sales were down 1.8 percent.
Same-store sales declined 1.7 per cent for the year after adjusting for the decision to discontinue low-margin computer sales in late 2004.
"Same-store sales in Eastern Canada were down as a result of increased competition and a decline in the Quebec market, which experienced strong grand opening sales in 2004," Yost said.
The company announced a rebranding strategy earlier this year in which several United Furniture locations will be converted to Brick stores during the first half of this year.